Posted Nov 15 - 2024Headteacher's Newsletter
what's happening at Chesham Grammar
Posted on: February 4th 2022
Head's Blog
Dear parent
This morning, along with a good number of past and present colleagues, I attended the funeral of Tony Baker. Mr Baker taught physics at Chesham Grammar School for over 20 years, retiring in the summer of 2020 after a period of ill-health. We were saddened to hear of his death just before Christmas. He was an excellent teacher, one who was absolutely passionate about his subject and who inspired and enriched many hundreds of CGS students not only with his love of physics but also with his dry wit and dead pan humour! During the service, a poem was read entitled 'My Last Assembly' and it finished with the line 'A good teacher is like eternity; he never knows where his influence stops'. As I listened to this, I was reminded of some messages I have received from former students of Tony's who explained the impact he had on their love of physics. The funeral ended with the words 'and so, with love and great respect, we say goodbye' which was a perfect summing-up of the feelings of those of us who worked alongside him at CGS.
SPORT
On Wednesday, our U16 football team made the journey to Staffordshire, accompanied by Mr Pontin and Miss Cowley, for their quarter final National Cup game v The De Ferrers Academy. I spoke to a number of the girls involved after their final training session the previous day and they were clearly ready for the challenge! By all accounts, the match was thrilling; worthy of a final, was how Mr Pontin put it. CGS took an early lead, going 2-0 up before the opposition levelled the scoreline by half time. In the second half, the team dug deep and eventually came out 5-2 winners. Brilliant! We are incredibly proud of the students involved and now await the semi-final draw on Monday, with fingers crossed that we get a home tie. Congratulations to students and staff, especially Miss Cowley who is coaching the team this year.
While our U16s were in Staffordshire, 35 other students were at Stowe School for the Bucks Schools Cross Country Championships. These are used to select students to represent Buckinghamshire in the national finals in March. Mr Stoddern tells me that it was a tough course and that our students really enjoyed the challenge. Six of them were selected for the Buckinghamshire squad with three of them guaranteed a place in the team. These students were Noah and Megan in year 7, Callum in year 9, Archie and Euan in year 10 and Charlotte in year 12.
Well done to everyone who took part. Mr Stoddern would like me to remind parents that there is a Cross Country club on a Friday lunchtime. All students are welcome and no prior running experience is needed.
There have been lots of other sporting successes during the week. In netball, our year 9s and 10s beat Beaconsfield High School while in matches against Dr Challoners High School saw our 8A team won while the 8Bs lost a hard-fought game. Our year 9C and D teams played Holmer Green Senior School, winning both games. In
basketball, the year 9s had to dig deep v The Chalfonts Community College going into the last quarter 3 points behind but going on to win the match. The year 10s played Dr Challoner's Grammar School, eventually losing the game while the First XI football team beat Ashlyns and the year 9 rugby team's game v Kings Langley School went right to the wire, with CGS winning. Well done to everyone and thank you for representing the school with pride.
YOUNG ENTERPRISE
As you are aware, every year some of our Sixth Formers take part in Young Enterprise and form a company to give them real life business experience. One of our teams this year, Chain of Kindness, is making and selling cards and over the next week or so will be selling Valentine's Day cards in school. These are priced at £2.50 and will be available to buy during break and lunch times.
BIRTHDAY TEAS
It was a pleasure to meet with Tom, Danny, Pippa, Alfie, Pablo and Flinn in year 13 on Thursday for birthday tea and to hear about their 18th birthday celebrations as well as their plans for life beyond CGS. Happy birthday wishes to them all.
FOCGS BAGS2SCHOOL COLLECTION
Please be aware that The Friends of Chesham Grammar School will be holding another Bag2School Collection on Wednesday16th February 2022 between 8am and 9am. We have so far collected a total of 2,180kg which has raised over £650 for FoCGS. This is an easy way to support FoCGS and it gives you a chance to have a clear out at home! Further details about Bag2School and a list of the items which can be included can be found here.
LIFESKILLS
Many thanks to parents who took a few minutes to provide feedback for our review of the History Department this week. This feedback is as important to us as that we gather from students. Next week, we are reviewing Lifeskills and if you are able to give us your views on this subject, you can do so here.
COVID-19 - REMOTE EDUCATION
We have had a significant number of positive Covid cases so far this term and I would like to thank you for your continued support in helping us manage this. In line with government requirements, we provide access to remote education when a student needs to self-isolate. Work may be provided via Canvas or students may be invited into a lesson via Teams. Students should attend and complete the work unless of course they are unwell. Please note that work is provided from day 2 of an absence. Following the notification of each positive case, it obviously takes a little bit of time to ensure staff are notified and to set this up. If you have any questions about anything to do with your child's absence, please do get in touch with us using the office@cheshamgrammar.org email address. I would ask that parents and students do not email teachers directly. Most will have a full teaching load and it is unrealistic to expect them to be able to respond quickly.
SCHOOL PRODUCTION
Next week sees the culmination of months of hard work by staff and students when our school show, High School Musical Jr, opens at The Elgiva on Wednesday evening. It runs through until Saturday. From what I have seen of rehearsals, it will be great show!
CGS ECONOMICS MAGAZINE
I know from feedback we have had previously that many parents have enjoyed the CGS Economics Magazine, The Current Account, which is written by our GCSE and A level economics students. The latest edition can be found here. Well done to all those involved.
FINALLY
Finally, please be aware that we are currently advertising a number of roles within the school which might be of interest to parents. Details can be found here. Please also note that Astra, our School Centred Initial Teacher Training partner, is recruiting trainees in a range of subjects across primary, secondary and special school sectors. I can reliably inform you that a career in the teaching profession is immensely rewarding! Information is available here.
With best wishes for a relaxing weekend,
Annmarie McNaney
Headteacher
